Light-dimmer switch



June 12, 1928. 1,673,581

F. NAUGLE LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH 7 Filed Jan. 28, 1925 FIE-L1.

Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rm! maven, or nomrom', ramwmvnwn.

mcn'r-nmx'aa swrrcn.

Application fled January as, 1025. Serial I0. 8,888.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to dimmer switches of the resistance type used in connection with the lighting circuits of motor vehicles.

The trouble encountered in night driving which is caused b the glaring headlights of passing motor ve icles 18 too well known to warrant description, and it must be admitted that the used of special lenses and focusing of the light bulb has failed to eliminate this cause of danger. The most effective remedy is for drivers to dim the vehicle lights on passing, but this remed is generally disregarded, due to the dlfliculty of manipulating the dimmer switch, because of its usual inaccessible location on the dash.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch of the type set forth which can be easily operated so as to momentarily dim the headlights of the vehicle to which it is adapted and which can also be located in any position convenient to the driver such, for example, as on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a switch of the type set forth which can be easily operated to dim the headlights without removing the hand from the steering wheel and whic will automatically operate to brighten the headlights when the necessity for dimming has passed.

A still further object is to provide a dimmer switch which can be readily attached to any motor vehicle, which is simple and cheap to construct and is positive in opera tion.

These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in this articular art are accomplished by means of t is invention, one embodiment of which is shown for the purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section through one form of apparatus embodying this invention. Fig. 2 1s a plan view of the same attached to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a lighting circuit showing the application of this invention thereto.

The illustrated embodiment of this invention includes a housing 5 formed of any desired insulating material and provided with binding posts 6 and 7. One binding post 6 is secured to a terminal plate 8 having a spring arm 9 extending across the hollow interior of the bod portion 5. A contact 10, formed on the rec end of the arm 9, is adapted to ordinarily engage a second contact piece 11 formed on a terminal plate 12 which is secured to the other binding post 7.

A push button 13 extends upwardly through an opening 14 formed in the top of the housing 5 and at its lower end rests u on the terminal late spring arm 9. T e head 15 of the pusli button is adapted to slide within a counterbore l6 and a stop screw 17 extends inwardl to the opening 14 so as to engage a shoul er 18, formed on the push button, and prevent its accidental removal from the device.

A set screw 19 engages the terminal plate 12 and is adapted to adjust the position of the contact 11 and the latter may be locked in the adjusted position by means of a lock nut 20 on the set screw.

The terminal plates are mounted upon a removable insulatin partition plate 21 which separates the interior of the housing into an upper and lower com artment. A dimming resistance is provide in the lower compartment and includes a series of carbon or graphite discs 22 which cooperate to form a built up resistance. A metal spring follower 23 is slidably mounted in the lower compartment and is yieldingly pressed into engagement with one end of the resistance by. a spring 24 inserted between the spring follower and a conducting late 25 which is electrically and mechanica ly connected to an arm 25' formed on the terminal plate 8 and extending downwardly through a perforation 26 formed in the insulating partition plate 21.

The other end of the resistance engages a follower 27 which is electrically connected with the terminal plate 12 by means of a depending arm 27 extending through a perforation 28 in the partition and clamped against a headed bushing 40 by means of a nut 41 threaded on the outer end thereof. The follower 27 may be moved longitudinally of the lower compartment by means of a resistance adjusting screw 29 threaded through the bushing 40 so as to vary the pressure between the plates 22 and to correspondingly vary the resistance thereof. The screw 29 forms an electrical connection between the bushing 40 and the follower 27. This provides a positive control over the degree of dimming made necessary by low battery voltage, different road conditions or variations in lamps or reflectors as well as. desires of the driven.

A mounting or clamp 30 is secured to the housing so that the latter may be attached to any convenient part of the-motor vehicle,

such, for example, as a spoke of thesteering wheel 31, as illustrated in Fig. 2'.

An opening 32 is provided in the housing through which the wires of the lighting circuit maybe introduced for attachment to the terminal posts 6 and'7.

The switch is inserted directly in the lighting circuit 33 which carries the current to the headlights 34 from any desired source 35. Assuming that the dash switch 36 is closed the current ordinarily passes through the terminal plates 8 and 12 and the contacts -10 and 11 so that the headlights give their full effect when the dash switch is properly closed in the usual manner. When it is desired-to momentarily dim the headlights,

such as when passing another vehicle, it is merely necessary to depress the push button 13 so as to separate the contacts 10 and 11- against the spring pressure of the arm 9.

This breaks the short circuit around the resistance and forces the current to pass therethrough with the corresponding dimming effect or lessening of the current passing through the headlights. .When the other vehiclehas been passed the short circuit isautomatically closed upon release of the push .button by the spring arm 9 again bringing the contacts 10 and 11 into electrical connect1on. ,The operation of the device is so simple as to induce the driver'to use it. It

. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I I

A dimmer switch for lights including a housing, a variable pile resistance within said housing and included in the light circuit, an adjusting screw extending through one wall of said housing for varying said resistance, a shunt circuit for short circuiting said resistance, including a yielding contact 7 and a push button for moving said contact to break said shunt circuit and dim said lights. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this -7th day of January,

FRANK NAUGLE. 

